Conflicts

Ukraine Trains Drone Pilots as Technology's Role in War with Russia Expands

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Dec 4, 2025

THE BARE STORY

Ukraine is training both civilians and military personnel to operate First-Person-View (FPV) drones, which have become a significant feature of the nearly four-year-long conflict with Russia. The use of these drones is described as a major development in modern warfare.

At an undisclosed location, a facility known as Killhouse Academy operates out of a disused warehouse, according to one report. The training curriculum there reportedly includes computer simulations and practical flight exercises with real drones, which are designed to be fitted with explosive charges for use on the battlefield.

An instructor at the academy, identified by the call sign "DC," stated that patience, practice, and calmness are essential qualities for drone pilots. He described the technological competition with Russia as a "constant race for an advantage" and claimed that warfare "must become unmanned to save lives, money, and time."

The use of expendable drones is considered a way for Ukraine to counter Russia's larger military. According to some estimates cited in one summary, drones may be responsible for approximately 80% of all military casualties in the conflict. In a related development, the Pentagon has announced a Drone Dominance Program with the goal of acquiring 200,000 lethal drones by 2027, following a June executive order on the matter signed by President Trump, according to one account.

Same Facts. Different Perspectives.

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Perspective by Grok

• Engaged in a technological competition with Ukraine. The conflict is described by a Ukrainian instructor as a "constant race for an advantage" in drone technology. This implies that Russia is also actively participating in this technological rivalry, developing and deploying its own drone capabilities in response to Ukraine's innovations.

• Facing an adversary increasingly skilled in drone warfare. Russia confronts a Ukrainian force that is systematically training pilots to operate FPV drones. These drones are specifically designed to be fitted with explosive charges for use on the battlefield, representing a significant and evolving threat.

• Involved in a conflict defined by high drone casualties. According to some estimates cited in one summary, drones may be responsible for approximately 80% of all military casualties in the conflict. This statistic indicates that Russian forces, like their Ukrainian counterparts, are participants in a form of warfare where drone technology is a primary cause of losses.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• The Pentagon's new Drone Dominance Program, aiming to acquire 200,000 lethal drones by 2027, signals a significant shift in U.S. military policy and defense spending.

• This large-scale acquisition of drones could create new business for U.S. defense companies, potentially impacting the defense sector of the economy and related jobs.

• The U.S. military's focus on drones suggests a move toward unmanned warfare, which may alter the nature of future conflicts and the risks faced by service members.

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